Machine for operating upon soles



A ril 22 1924.,

p L J. BAZZONI MACHINE FOR OPERATING UPON SOLES Filed Nov. 18, 1918 10 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 22, 1924. 1,491,284

- L. J. BAZZONI MACHINE FOR OPERATING UPON SOLES Filed Nov. 18, 1918 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 L. J. BAZZONI MACHINE FOR OPERATING UPON 501485 10 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 18, 1918 Tiiii- -1 llll lllllll l1 April 22, 19240 April 22, 1924. a r 1,491,284

L. .LBAZZONI MACHINE FOR OPERATING UPON SOLES Filed Nov. 18, 19m 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 Izaak? April 22, 1924.

L. J. BAZZON! MACHINE FOR OPERATING UPON SOLES 10 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Nov.

April 22, 1924. 1,491,284

7 J. BAZZONI MACHINE FOR OPERATING UPON SOLES Filed Nov. 18. 1918 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 lweiaw Apiil 22, 1924.

I J. BAZZONI MACHINE FOR OPERATING UPON SOLES 10 Sheets-Sheet, 9

Filed Nov. 18.. 1918 lllllllllllllillllllllfli I IIFIIIIIIII April 22, 1924. 1,491,284

L. J. BA'ZZONI momma FOR OPERATING urorq soLss Filed Nov. 18, 19L8 lO-Sheet s-Sheet 1o as, I 1x06712277 bf? ha (M MYQQQ W Patented Apr. 22, 192.4.

a ap in LEWIS J. BAZZONI, 0'5 SVTAMPSOGTT, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED SHQE MACHINERY CORPORATION, OF EATER-SON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEVJ JERSEY.

MACHINE FOR OPERATING UPON SOLES.

Application filed November 18, 1918. Sci-i211 No. 262,955.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEwIs J BAZZONI, a citizen of the United States, residing at Swampscott, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Operating upon Soles; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to machines for operating upon shoe'soles prior to their incorporation in a boot or shoe.

It is desirable from the standpoint of efficiency that machines which perform certain predetermined and definite operations upon shoe soles shall be so constructed that they may perform the desired cycle of operations on a large number of soles successively with out the constant attention of an operator.

Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide improved mechanism for automatically guiding and feeding successive soles to the operating instrumentalities of the machine and for disposing of the soles at the completion of the operation. To this end I have provided in combination with a sole treating machine, a sole magazine and a support for the soles when ejected from the magazine with feeler means cooperating with some characteristic contour of the sole for locating it on the support in proper relation to the operating means to insure sucessful treatment.

A further object of the invention is to provide mechanism which insures the proper guidance to the operating instrumentalities of successive soles which may vary both in size and shape.

With these and other objects in view, the several features of the invention consist in certain novel features of construction, combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed the advantages of which will be obvious to those skilled in the art from the following description:

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a sole molding machine having the present invention incorporated therein; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the right side of to work alternately.

the twin machine shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the magazine and a part of the table shown in Fig. 1; Fig. i is a plan view of the table similar to Fig. 3 but taken on a section line passing below the magazine; Fig. 5 is a continuation of Fig. 1} showing the end of the table adjacent the molds and the lower mold; Fig. 6 is a section on the line 66 of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is'a section on the line 77 of Fig. 3; Fig. 8

is a longitudinal section through the table showing a part of the magazine and the transferring. mechanism in its inoperative position; Figs. 9, '10 and 11 are vertical longitudinal sections through the table, similar to Fig. 8, showing the transferring mechanism in successive stages of its operation in transferring the sole to the molds; Fig. 1:2 is a detail view on an enlarged scale, showing the toe engaging sole positioning device; Fig. 13 is 'a perspective detail showing the actuating means for certain of the sole positioning devices; Figs. 14, 15 and 16 are detail views, on an enlarged scale, of the stop mechanism by which the machine is brought to rest when the soles in both the magazines have become exhausted; and Fig. 17 is a view showing the mechanism for actuating the sole feeding mechanism.

The present invention is embodied in a sole molding machine which is provided with two sets of cooperating molds adapted In the simplest and most efficient form of the invention which has yet been devised a sole magazine is provided for each side of the machine, and guiding and feeding mechanism serves to transfer the soles successively from each magazine toan operative position between the molds. During this transferring move ment the bottom sole of the stack is initially dropped upon a table, the sole is then located and clamped in position, after which it is transferred bodily to a position between the molds. At the completion of the molding operation the finished sole is discharged into a suitable receptacle and a new sole placed in position. This cycle of operations continues on each. side of the machine until the stacks in both magazines are completely exhausted, after which the machine automatically stops.

In the machine shown in the illustrated embodiment of the invention the right hand magazine only is indicated in the drawings.

lil

* upon the table, as indicated at S.

is supported above the table by legs 21 and The toe ends of the soles are loosely engaged by a retaining member 23 which is rigidly connected to the plate by a casting 24. The heel end of the stack of soles is positioned by an angular retaining member 25 extending upwardly from a bracket 26. In order that the magazine may be adjusted to accommodate different sizes of soles, the bracket 26 is arranged to slide toward and from the retaining member 23 and is secured in adjusted position by bolts 3 27 passing through slots 28 in the plate 20.

The lowermost sole in the stack is ejected from the magazine and dropped upon the table by a finger 32 (see Figs. 7 and 8) which reciprocates longitudinally through a slot 33 formed in the plate 20. (See Fig. 3.) As shown in Fig. 8, the finger 32 is pivotally mounted on a block 34 and pressed yieldingly upward by a leaf spring 35. A

stop 36 is provided to limit this upward movement.

The end of the finger projects above the plate 20 a sufiicient height to engage the lowermost sole, and when the finger is moved to the right the sole is pushed through an opening 37 and dropped When the finger is moved to the left, it is depressed by the lowermost sole and again lifted by the leaf spring when the finger is moved beyond the heel end. The block 34,

" which carries the sole ejecting finger, is secured to an endless belt 40 which passes around two loosely mounted pulleys 41 and 42 beneath the magazine at opposite ends. The belt is moved alternately in opposite directions by a dog 43 mounted in the upper end of a post 44. which has a reciprocating movement as will be hereinafter explained. The dog 43 has a pair of short fingers 45 which, when the dog is moved to the right,

engage the ends of a bar 47 (see Fig. 7)

secured to the belt 40. This causes the ejecting finger 32 to travel in the opposite direction toward the heel end of the sole where it can feed the sole onto the table when moved in the opposite direction. As the dog 43 has a greater path of travel than it is desired to impart to the ejecting finger the finders 45 are short enough to clear the bar when the latter reaches the pulley 41 and starts to rise as it passes around the pulley. Thus the dog is free to continue its movement to the right, and on its return stroke the bar, which has been left in elevated position, is engaged by longer fingers 48,-Fig. 11, which move the belt in a direction to cause the ejecting finger 32 to deliver another sole to the table.

The sole after having; been dropped upon the table is next definitely positioned so that when it is gripped by the transferring mechanism and moved into operative relation with the molds the break imparted by the molding operation will be properly located. It has been determined that the break in the majority of soles is located the molds the break will be formed in the desired place. Accordingly, means is provided for bringing the longitudinal center of the sole to a definite position with relation to the corresponding longitudinal center of the molds after the sole has been delivered tothe table, and before it is engaged by the transferring mechanism. In order that the break may havethe proper angular relation to the length of the sole means are also provided for determining the angular position of the sole before it is engaged by the transferring mechanism. It will be apparent that variation in the length of the sole will not affect its proper positioning with relation to the molds as the location of thesole is determined by its longitudinal center independently of the length.

The table upon which the sole is delivered from the magazine consists of two pairs of plates 51 and 52. The plates of each pair are separated, as shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 7, so as to permit the passage therebetween of certain parts of the transferring mechanism which are carried by a slide 53 arranged to travel in ways of which these plates form the gibs. The last part of the movement of the slide away from the molds is employed to open a pair of sole positioning arms which engage the sole in some characteristic part of its contour, as for example, the shank and determine its lateral position. As this movement is also employed to deliver the sole from the magazine. as hasbeen described, it is apparent that the sole positioning arms must be subsequently released on the last end of the movement, after the sole has been delivered.

The sole positioning arms comprise members 54 mounted on vertical pivots 55 carried on the end of arms 56 projecting from the casting 24. The members 54 are interconnected by intermeshing gear segments 57 and the arms are normally moved-toward one another by a spring 58 so that they act to center that portion of the sole engaged between them. The sole engaging portions of the arms are pivotally connected with the members 54 in order that the sole engaging extremities may be capable of a vertical movement made necessary by the particular construction employed which will be herein after'described. Referring to Figs. 3 and 7, the inner side of the sole is engaged by the arm 59 which is pivotally connected with a. member 54 by a screw 60, The out secured in adjusted position on the arm by has been delivered to the table.

means of a nut so that the position of the sole may be varied to the right or left, as shown in Fig. 7, by a suitable adjustment of the slide 62. Variations in'the shape of the characteristicsole contour used for the adjustment of the sole may thus be accommodated.

In order to open the arms against the action of the spring 58, one of the members 5-lhas an extension 63, Fig. 7, which engages a finger projecting from a slide bar 64. The slide baris moved to the left (Figs. 3 and 4) to open the arms into sole receiving position by a latch loosely pivoted on the left end of the 'bar 64. When the slide 53 is moving to the left into the position shown in Fig. 4:, the end of the latch 65 is engaged by a beveled portion 66 on the end of the slide, and the bar 64 is thereby moved to the left and the arms are opened. After the bar has been moved a distance sufficient to open the arms to the desired extent, the baris locked in this position during the delivery of the sole. The means for locking the bar comprises a detent 70 (Figs. 1 and 3) which is pressed by a spring 71 against the lower side of the slide bar 64. The lower side of the bar is provided with a. notch 72 which receives the end of the detent 70, and is thereby held in retracted position. As soon as the detent has entered the notch, the latch 65 is lifted from engagement with the slide 53 by the engagement of an arm 73, integral with the latch 65, with a fixed lug 74. Thus, as soon as the bar 64 is under the control of the detent, its actuating latch is rendered inoperative.

The continued movement ofthe slide 53 to the left releases the detent so that the arms may close upon the sole as soon as it The detent 70 is released by the engagement of a tail 7 5 with the beveled portion 66 of the slide 50. This release occurs just as the slide 53 reaches its extreme position away from the moldsa As shown in Figs. 3 and 7, the slide 53has just reached its extreme position and the arms have closed under the action of the spring'58 to position the shank of the sole laterally. I

The first part ofthe inward movement of the transferring slide 53 acts to swing the laterally about that part of the shank engaged by the positioning arms so asto correct the lateralposition ofthe sole on the table. and also to move the sole in the line of .its length to bring the longitudinal center of the sole into a predetermined relation, withthe molds. The lateralj swinging or thesole is accomplished by a V shaped heel engaging member which brings the end of the heel, seat to a predetermined lateral position. The heel centering device is clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 8. The slide 53 is provided with an overhanging arm 75 upon which are "pivotally mounted two wings 76 which are constrained to move in unison by segmental gear teeth 78. The wings are normally held toward one another by a spring 7 9 which is compressed between two fingers, one extending from each of the Wings. The normal position of the wings is adjustable by means of a thumb nut 80 threaded onto a stud 81 which passes through a clearance hole in the finger adjacent the nut and is pivotally connected with the other finger. The thumb nut 80 is so adjusted that the wings will engage the sides of the rounded heel seat and bring it to a central position therebetween after which, if the sole is held from moving with the advancing wings, the spring 79 will yield, and allow the wings to advance slightly without affecting the position of the sole.

After, the shank of the sole is laterally "positioned, as shown in Fig. 3, itwill be apparent that the action of the heel centering device will cause the toe to swing to the right or left, thereby giving the sole a definite angular position with relation to the ways for a slide 89. The slides 53 and 89 may be conveniently distinguished as the upper or transferring and the lower slides respectively. The slide 89 is given a constant reciprocating movement toward and from the molds. The upper slide 53, however, which is actuated by the lower slide 89 has a variable reciprocating movement which varies in accordance with the size of the sole being delivered to the molds. The initial movement of the upper slide 53, during which the positioning of the sole occurs, is transmitted from the lower slide 89 through the following connections; refering to Fig. 8, the upper slide 53 has a pair of upwardly extending cars 90 between which is pivotally mounteda tree-armed bell crank. One arm 91 of the bell crank forms the movable aw of a gripper which engages the sole at the proper time and carriesit to the molds. The

' upper slide and the wings 76 mounted.

with the gripper arm 91 elevated, by a latch 9 1 pivotally mounted on the slide 53. The arm 92 is forked to provide a downwardly extending finger 95 which passes through a hole in the slide 53. The finger 95 terminates in a rounded end which is engaged by a lug 96 projecting from the lower slide 89. As the three-armed bell crank is held in rigid position by the latch 94 the finger 95 may be considered as being an integral part of the slide 53. It is apparent that movement of the slide 89 to the right will transmit a corresponding movement to the slide 53 so long as the latch 9 1 holds the finger 95 down in the path of the lug 96.

The sole is positioned longitudinally by two movable abutmcnts which engage respectively the toe and heel ends of the sole. The heel end of the sole is engaged by the wings 76 on the slide 53 and the toe is engaged by a finger 101 which is arranged to move simultaneously with the slide 53 but in the opposite direction. It is evident that these two abutments, one engaging each end of the sole and moving toward one another at the same speed, will position any size sole placed therebetween with its longitudinal center in the same place. After these two abutments have moved together so that they both engage the sole, the resistance offered to further movement is utilized to perform several operations as will be hereinafter apparent.

In order that the wings 76 and the toe engaging finger 101 shall be moved towards each other at equal speeds, the finger 101 is arranged to be moved by the initial movement of the lower slide 89 which pushes the thereon. One of the gibs which retain the lower slide in its ways is in the form of a double raceway 102 (Figs. 7. 8 and 12). The finger 101 is pivotally mounted on an arm depending from a rack 103 mounted to slide in the upper part of the raceway.

The rack 103 is connected with another rack 10a in the lower part of the racewayby a gear 105 which moves the rack 103 in a direction oppos1te to the rack 10 1 and at the same speed. The rack 10% is moved with the upper slide 53 by the finger 95 which is provided with a shoulder 107 to engage a. block 106 projecting from the rack (see Fig. 13). The inoperative posi tion of the toe engaging finger 101 is shown in Fig. 8 in which it has been swung down clockwise by a spring 108 surrounding the pivot of the finger and'engaging an arm 109 formed integral therewith. As the lower slide 89 starts to move the upper slide towardsthe sole, the rack 103 is moved in the opposite direction which causes the arm 109 to engage the bottom of the raceway in which the rack 10% runs, and to he turned up into a vertical position as shown in Figs.

9 and 12. The wings 76 and the finger 101 thus draw toget ier one or theother of them moving the sole between the members 59 and 62 in accordance with the position in which it happens to be found, until the sole is gripped between the wings and finger as shown in Fig.9. In order that the sole shall not buckle at the center under this endwise pressure the 59 and the slide 62 are each provided with projections 110 which extend over the sole and hold. it down on the table.

The pressure exerted on the sole between the abutments atthe toe and heel is employed to cause the sole to be gripped by the transferring mechanism and to remove the finger 101 from the path of the sole oressure is exerted on them by the sole.

Pivotally connected on the table 53 between the wings 76 is a trip finger 111. This trip finger 111 is in such position that it will not be engaged by the sole until the wings 76 have been spread. Upon suflicient pressure being exerted on the wings to" spread them, the heel end of the sole strikes the trip finger 111 and swings it about its pivot. The lower end of the trip finger is connected by a rod 112 with the. depending end of the latch 94 so that a. movement of the trip finger counter clockwise causes the latch 9% to be withdrawn from over the arm 92 and allows the three-armed bell crank to turn above the path ofmovement of the lug 96 which has been moving the upper slide. This causes the upper slide to stop as soon as the work has been gripped. The elevation of the finger 95 also lifts the shoulder 107 above the projection 106 by which the rack 104i is moved. As soon as the rack 104 is free from the action of the finger 95 the rack is returned to its original posi tion as shown in Fig. 8, by a cable 115, one end of which is attached to the rack. and which passes over an idle pulley 116 to a counter weight 117 (Fig. 1). This permits the toe engaging finger 101 to move to the right or toward the molds and to swing downward below the table out of. the path of the sole as it moves to the molds.

It will now be seen that any size sole will be positioned on the table with its longitudinal center in a predetermined relation to the molds. The transferring slide 53 has moved up into proper position to clamp the heel end of the sole, whichposition will vary in accordance with the length of the sole. Since it is necessary to move the sole a certain distance to the molds, it is evident that the transferring slide must move the same distance but start and stop its transferring movement at variable points depending upon the length of the sole. As the longitudinal center of the sole is always at the same place on the table the variation in position of the transferring slide at the time it grips the sole will be one half of the variation in the length of the soles and the movement after gripping the sole will be constant. lower slide 89 which imparts the transfer ring movement to the upper slide has a uniform travel as has been stated. The relation between the upper and lower slides, at the time the upper slide starts its transferring movement, is determined by the length of the sole positioned between the wings 76 and the finger 101. The upper or transferring slide has been moved towards the molds by a direct engagement with the lower slide until such time as the upper slide grips the work, at which time the direct connection between the upper and lower slides is broken. This initial movement of the upper slide and the relative lost motion between the slides after the breaking of the connection vary in accordance with the length of the sole and means is provided for measuring this movement. The initial movement of the upper slide determines the relation be- .ween the two slides when the lower slide again actuates the upper slide totransfer the sole to the molds.

The initial movement of the upper or transferring"slide is measured by a measuring bar which forms an abutment for imparting the transferring movement to the upper slide. i v

Referring to Fig. 8 it will be seen that the sole gripping bell crank is provided with a third arm 120 which depends throughthe slide 53 and on its lower end carries a loosely and slidably mounted. measuringbar 121. Tim right end of the measuring bar is provided with a lug 122 which is engaged by an abutment formed on the end of a lever 123 pivotally mounted on a stud 124 secured in fixed. position on a part of the gib 125 of the lower slide. A. spring on one end of the lever holds it normally in the position shown in Fig. 8, such position being determined by a stop pin 126. When the slide 53 starts its initial movement to the right, the bar 121 is prevented from moving therewith by the engagement of the lug 122 with its abutment. As soon,however, as the slide has moved a sufficient distance to cause the sole gripping bell crank to turn about its pivot to grip the sole. the measuring bar 121 is freed from engagement with the abutment.

The

mold by this, means.

Fig. 9 shows the measuring bar having been held. stationary while the transferring slide was moving into s'olegripping position. The movement of the bell crankin gripping the sole causes the measuring bar 121 to be tipped up at an angle, as shown in Fig. 10, at which time the lug 122 is below the abutment on the lever A locking device is provided to lock the measuring bar121 in the position with relation to the transferring slide in which it is located when the sole is clamped, and this enables the measuring bar to be employed as an abutment to move the upper slide in the transferring operation. The locking device comprises a lever 127 pivotally mounted in the lowerpart of the arm 120. The pivoted end of the lever carries an eccentric roll 128. which at times grips the measuring bar 121 so as to prevent any relative movement betweenthe bar and the arm 120. As shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the lever 127 is in its unlo'c-kedposition, it being held in this position by the engagemei'it of the end of the lever withthe slide 53. A tail on the lever 12? is" connected with the slide 53fby a spring 129, so that when the measuring bar 121 is tilted by the gripping movement of the bell crank, the lever 127is turned by the spring 129 until the' eccentric roll 128 clamps the measuringbar and prevents any relative inevementbtween it and the arm 120.

The lower slide 89 is provided with an adjustable stop screw 130 which imparts movement to the transferring slide 53, picking it iip'at theend of the. lost motion occurring after its movement has been interrupted'as a result of gripping the sole. The screw 130 is adapted to engagethe end of the measuring bar 121 and" complete the moveiiient of the transferring slide to the Thelower Slide will always pick up the transferring slide, by means ofthe screw 130 and the bar 121, at the same point after whichth'e two slides will always move together the same distance to the molds. The lower slide always comes to a definite position adjacent the molds but as the relation between the slides is variable, as has been described, the position of the transfering slide with relation to the molds is determined by the length of the sole being transferred. During the transferring movement of the upper slide the sole is pulled out from between the fingers 59 and 62.

The transferring slide 53 is moved by the lower slide 89, in the relative position shown in Fig. 10, to the position adjacent the inolds shown in Fig. 11. This inward position is determined by the extreme in ward position of the slide 89. which always the same except that it may be adjiisted "for the purposes hereinafter set forth. lnordr that the sole may be firmly retained in its'position relative to the molds Ill) during the molding operation, provision is made for lifting the transferring slide at the same time that the sole would be lifted by the rise of the lower mold. The castings 85 and 86 which provide ways for both the upper and lower slides are cut away adjacent the molds to receive two blocks 134 and 135 (see Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 11), in which are formed continuations of the ways for the transferring slide. Each of the blocks 134 and 135 is provided with a depending slide 136, and the two slides are rigidly connected by a yoke 137. The slides 136 are each mounted in vertical ways 138 formed on the castings 85 and 86. The blocks 134 and 135 together with the transferring slide and plates 52 are lifted with the lower mold 139 by a pair of arms 140 extending from the mold block 141. The mold block 141 which has a horizontal upper face is mounted to slide on an inclined surface formed on the lower mold carrier 142 so that by manipulation of a hand wheel 143 a screw 144 may be turned to adjust the mold up or down for the purpose of securing the proper pressure on the sole and adjustment to the thickness thereof. The arms 140 being carried by the mold block remain in fixed relation to the soleengaging surface of the lower mold irrespective of any adjustment of the mold block to secure variation in pressure. It is apparent that the transferring slide will always retain its relation with the upper surface of the lower mold, because the slide will be lifted more or less in accordance with the adjustment of the mold block 141 to secure varying pressures. The lifted position of the transferring slide is shown in Fig. 11. By this construction, the sole gripping device carried by the transferring slide retains its grip upon the heel-seat during the molding operation. As shown in Fig. 3, the sole positioning arms 59 and 61 extend over the plates 52 which form that portion of the table which rises with the transferring slide. In order that these arms may rise with the transferring slide they are pivoted, as hereinbefore described.

As the lower mold descends, the transferring slide is dropped to its original level and returned to the magazine by the move ment of the lower slide 89. The return movement of the transferring slide is produced by the engagement of a hook 145 secured to the under side of the slide with the lug 146 in which the stop screw 13-) is mounted on the slide 89. When the hook is engaged by the lug 146, the parts are returned to their original position beneath the magazine, as shown in Fig. 8.

During return movement of the slides. the sole-gripping arm 91 releases its hold on the sole and an ejector throws the molded sole to one side of the machine. The gripping arm 91 is opened to free the molded sole by a trip finger 147 (Figs. 8 and 9), which is loosely mounted on the end of a bracket 148. As the transferring slide approaches the trip finger, the end of the finger engages a cam surface 149 formed on the arm 92 and as the trip finger is stopped from swinging to the left, the cam surface acts to depress the arm' 92, thereby lifting the sole gripping arm 91 in which position it is held by the latch 94 and freeing the sole. The movement of the sole gripping arm also causes. the measuring bar 121 to be returned to horizontal position and the bar to be unlocked. As the transferring slide continues its movement to the left, the lug 122 engages a finger 150 projected from the lever 123, which prevents further movement of the bar to the left, thus causing it to slide through its bearing on the arm 120 and to be returned to the position shown in Fig. 8.

The means for ejecting the molded sole may be conveniently combined with the sole positioning arm 61. This arm, together with, the corresponding arm 59, is moved outwardly just prior to the arrival of the transferring slide in its extreme position to the left, and, in order that this opening movement may eject a sole from the machine, the arm 61 is provided with an extension. 151 (Figs. 3 and 7 on which is pivotally mounted a depending finger 152. This finger just clears the plate 52 and is restrained from acounter-clockwise movement by a lug 153. Thus, when the arm 61 and extension. 151 are swung for the purpose of receiving a new sole, the finger 152 strikes the side of the molded sole and throws it from the machine. On the return movement of the arm, after another sole has been delivered to the table, the finger is free to swing and pass over the sole into the position shown in Fig. 7.

In order that the positioning arms 59 and 61 shall not interfere with parts of the transferring table during its movement, means is provided for opening the arms slightly at the proper time to permit the passage therebetween of such parts as might interfere with the sole engaging parts of the arms. The arms are opened by the action of a cam surface 156 formed on the transferring slide This cam surface acts on the lower end 157 of a lever (see Figs. 3, 4, 7 and 8) pivoted at 158, the upper end 159 of which is slotted to engage a pin on a plunger 160. The plunger 160 is mounted in suitable bearings projecting from the bracket 24 and is urged to the right, in Fig. 7, by a spring 161 which acts upon a collar 162 fixed on the plunger. The other end of the plunger :is in position to engage one of the gear segments 57, by which the two arms are connected, so that the rise in the cam surface 156 causes the plunger to actuate the gear segment, thereby spreading the sole engaging arms. The end of the plunger is provided with a screw 168 by which the spreading movement may be slightly adjusted.

The lower mold on each side of the machine is actuated to compress the sole by a toggle comprising links 166 and 167, (Figs. 1 and 17). The connection between the two links is acted upon by'a. crank-arm 168 which is actuated by a. crank on theshaft 169 to alternately straighten and bend the toggle, as is usual in sole molding machines of this type. In order that they sole may be placed between the molds before there is any chance of the molds having closed toofar to allow the proper positioning, the sole transferring movement is completed during the first half of the upward movement of the lower mold.

The lower slide 89 is actuated to position and transfer the sole to the molds by the combined movement of the links 166 and iii 167 of the toggle. The upper link carries, pivotally mounted thereon, an arm 170 having a cam slot 171,wl1ich is engaged by a roll 1.72 on the end of an arm 173 integrallink 167. Thecam arm 170 is provided with a; second slot 175 which receives a roll 174, mounted on one arm of a bell-crank lever 176. This lever is pivoted ona tie rod 177 which connects the brackets 87 and 88. The other arm of, the bell-crank is connected, by block and slot, with the end of a bell-crank 178 loosely journaled on a second tie rod 179. The other arm of the bell-crank 178 carries the pivot 180 of another bell-crank 181. One arm of this bell-crank. is con nected by a link 182 with the ears 188 depending from the lower slide 89.

If the bell-crank 181 were rigidly mounted on-the arm ofthe bell-crank 178, it is apparent that an invariable reciprocation would be imparted to the slide/[89. It is desirable, however. that the position of the slide 89 adjacent the molds shall be capable of slight adjustment. The desirability of this adjustment will be apparent from an inspection of Fig. 11, in which a sole is indicated in broken lines at 185, having a sharp break at the ball. line and for use in a womans high-heel shoe. It will be apparent that some of the distance between the end of the heel and the break has been taken up by the sharp rise in the shank,

and that the transferring slide should be moved nearer to the molds in order to secure the correct position of the break. In order that this adjustment-of the slide 89 toward the molds may be obtained without disturbing the left position, or, in other words, that the travel of the slide 89 may be capable of slight adjustment, its starting point remaining the same in all cases, the shorter arm of the bell-crank 181 is pro-- vided with a roll 186 which slides within a straight raceway 187. The raceway 187 is pivotally mounted at 188 on the bracket 87 and rigidly connected with an ar1n189, by which the angular position of the raceway may "be varied, The arm 189 is locked in adjusted position by hand nut 190. When the slide 89 is at the magazine endof the table or at the left in Fig. 1, the roll 186 coincides with the pivot 188 of the raceway 187, so that the raceway may be adjusted angularly without affecting the position of, the slide. The angular position ofthe raceway 187 is so adjusted that as the roll 186 moves downwardly, the bell-crank 181 will be turned about its pivot 180, thus increasing or decreasing the travel of the slide toward the mold. Fig. 17 shows the inechanical movement just described in such position that the lower mold has risen onehalf of its full travel and the slide 89 has completed its movementtowa-rds the molds.

A stop-mechanism is provided in the present invention which bringsthe machine to rest after the soles have been exhausted from both magazlnes. In order that the machine may not be stopped until the last sole in the magazines has been molded and ejected from the machine, the stop-mecha nism is arranged to throw out the driving clutch on the first idle stroke after the exhaustion of the soles. Each magazine is provided with a feeler which preferably opcrates through electrical connections to perform a' preliminary step in the stopping movement when the soles have become exhausted from the first magazine and to perform the second step when the soles have become exhausted from the other magazine. The second step puts the stop-mechanism in operative condition, so that it is acted upon by a moving part of the machine during the first idle movement thereafter and the machine brought to a stop.

The feeler mechanism with which each magazine is provided in illustrated in Figs. 7, 8 and 14. The bracket 2i carries an insulating plate 194 which provides a bearing for a pin 195 on which a feeler finger 196 is loosely mounted. The finger has a T- shaped end, in order to engage the toe ends of variously shaped soles, and normally hangs in the opening 87 through which the soles are delivered to the table. The feeler finger is provided with a contact arm 197 which, when there are no soles in the machine, swings by gravity into engagement with a contact 198, thereby completing an electrical circuit. As clearly shown in Fig. 8, when the lowermost sole S is ejected from the magazine, the feeler finger will swing counter-clockwise to allow the sole to pass there-beneath. After the sole has dropped, the feeler finger will swing back and if there is another sole in the magazine it will be stopped in the position shown. If there is no sole present in the magazine to stop the finger in this position, it will swing further until the contact arm 197 engages the contact 198, as shown at the left in Fig. 1e, and completes a circuit. The feeler on one magazine is connected by wires 199 with a magnet 200 and the feeler on the other magazine is connected by wires 201 with a mag net 202.

The magnets are arranged so that the first one to be energized erforms the preliminary step in stopping t -e machine, and the sec 0nd one to be energized renders the stopping means operative. The magnets are mounted on the upper end of a lever 208 pivotally mounted at 20 (see Fig. l) on the lower part of the machine frame. of the lever 203 is identical with the stop mechanism commonly used on sole-molding machines of this type. The lower end of the lever is provided with a roll which is held to the left in Fig. 1 by a light spring 205. When the treadle 206 is depressed to start the machine, the roll on the lever 203 snaps over the top of a lug 207 on the treadle,

holding it down until the lever is swung.

again to remove the roll from engagement with the lug. The treadle is connected by a link 208 with an arm 209 (Fig. 2) rigidly mounted on a rock shaft 210. The rear end of the rock shaft 210 carries a yoke 211 which is constructed. to slide a collar 212 on the main driving shaft 213. The collar is constructed to engage one end of a lever 21 1, the other end of which controls an expansion ring 215, whereby when the collar is moved in the proper direction, the ring will be expanded to operatively connect the shaft 213 with a driving pulley 216. A spring 217 tends to hold the rock-shaft 210 in inoperative position.

The magnets 200 and 202 perform certain functions when they are energized, whereby the lever 203 is moved and the machine stopped by the action of one or the other of the toggles the next time it is brought into straightened position after both magnets have been energized. The mechanism which enables one of the toggles to move the lever 208 is carried on the upper end of this lever and comprises a three-arm carrier 220 hanging freely from a pivot screw 221 on the upper end of the lever 203. The middle arm 222 of the carrier hangs between the two The lower end magnets so that it may be acted upon by either one. The carrier is also provided with two laterally extending arms 223, each of which has pivotally mounted at the end of the arm a swinging space-block lever 224:. The upper end of each of the. levers 22 1 is provided with a space-block 225 and the lower end is adapted at certain times to be acted upon by the outside end of one or the other of the magnets. The upper end of the lever 203 is forked and provided with two hosses226, the'faces of which are in sliding contact with'the space-blocks 225. hen neither of the magnets is energized, the carrier and the space-block levers hang in the position shown in Fig. 15. When in this position, the space-blocks are at one side of the path of two abutmentscrews 227, one carried by each of the lower toggle links 167. WVhen one of the toggles is straightened, at the time the sole is under pressure, the abutment screw 227 has passed by the spaceblock 225- and the screw is adjusted to such a position that it does not engage the boss 226 on the upper end of the lever 203. The positions of the two abutment screws 227 are indicated in broken lines in Fig. 15.

Assuming that the soles in the left-hand magazine have become exhausted, as indicated by the position of the feeler finger 196 in Fig. 14, the circuit through the wires 201 is then closed and the magnet 202 is energized. This causes the carrier 220 to swing to the right, thereby lowering the pivot ofthe left space-block lever 224 so that the spaceblock is substantially in line with the center of the'co-operati'ng boss 226. The parts are held in this position with both space-blocks at one side of the paths of travel of the abutment screws 227 until the soles in the other magazine have become exhausted. When the soles in the righthand magazine have become exhausted, the feeler finger will close the circuit through the wires 199 and the magnet 200, which will then act on the space-block lever 224: and cause the space-block to swing into the path of movement of the abutment screw 227 on that side of the machine. When the toggle next approaches the straight position. the abutment screw will strike the space-block 225 andwill swing the lever 203 towards the observer in Fig. 14, or to the left in Fig. 1, which will free the treadle 206 from the lower end of the lever and allow it to rise under the action of the spring 217 and stop the machine.

The space-block levers 22s are normally held in the position. shown in Fig. 15 by light springs 228, which hold the levers against stop-pins 229 on the carrier 220. In order that the action of the first magnet energized may be exerted on the central arm 222 of the carrier and not upon thelower end of one of the space-block levers 224, the

space-liiloclz levers are locked in the position shown until atter the carrier has been swung to one side or the other of the center. After the carrier has been so swung, the spaceblocl; lever, which has been depressed so as to l'iring it into operative relation with the magnet, is released from the control of the lock. The locking device comprises a lug J30, one on each of the arms of the lever 203, and a co-operating pin 231 in the space block lever As shown in Fig. 14, the lctt-han space-block lever has been swung downwardly so that the pin 231 is free to swing below the lug 230 While the corresponding pin and lug on the other side are still in looking relation; By this confstruction the first magazine to become emptied swings the parts into such a position that when the second magazine has become emptied the stop-mechanism will be rendered operative by moving one of the spaceblocks to such position that it will be struck by the abutn'ient screw 227 the next time the toggle is straightened.

lVhile the features described above are well adapted for use in asole molding ma chine, it is to be understood that except as defined in the claims the several features ot the prevent invention are not limited to use in a machine of this type.

The nature and scope of the present inveution having been indicated and a machine embodying the several features of the invention in their preferred form having been specifically described, \vhat claimed is:

1. A. machine for operating upon shoe soles having, in combination, sole molding instrumentalities, a sole magazine, mechanism. for feeding the soles independently from the magazine to the l nold ing instrumeutalities, and means for locating the individual soles prior to feeding the soles into operative relation to the molding instrumentalities and after the soles leave the magazine. l

2. A machine for operating upon shoe soles having, in combination, operating instrumentalities. a magazine, mechanism for feeding the soles individually from the magazine to theoperating instrunientalities including tWO slides, and means tor moving one of the slides a variable distance depend ing upon the lengtl' of the sole. and for moving the other slide a predetermined disianc independently of the length of the sole.

3. A machine for operating upon shoe soles having, in combination. operating instruincntalities, a magazine, feeding mechanism located beneath the magazine, means for causing individualsoles to drop from the magazine on to the feeding mechanism, and means for locating each Bole so dropped upon the feeding mechanism priorto feedsing the soles into operative relation to the instrumentalities.

4. A sole molding machine having, in combination, a pair otco-ormrating molds, ahead slide for transferring soles to position between the molds, a magazine located a distance above the feed slide, and means for causing individual soles to be deposited upon the feed slide from the magazine.

5. A; sole molding machine having, in combination, a pair of co operating molds, a magazine, means for transterring the soles successively from the magazine to an operative position between the molds, and for removing the soles vfrom operativeposition between the molds at the completion of the molding operation, said means con'iprising a sole gripping device for holding the solo in position between the molds during the first part at least of the molding operation, and means for ejecting the soles thus removed from the transferring means.

6. A: machine for operating upon shoe soles, comprising operating instrumentalities, a magazine, a finger constructed and arranged to deliver individual soles from the magazine, means for reciprocating the tinger longitudinally beneath the magazine, means for causing the finger to engage and deliver a sole from the magazine uponmovement in one direction only, and a. slide for thendelivering the sole to the operating instrumentalities.

7. A machine for operating upon soles, comprising operating instriunentalities. a. magazine, an endless belt supported be neath the magazine, a pivoted sole delivering finger mounted upon the belt, means for reciprocating the finger longitudinally beneath the magazine, and feeding means adapted to receive individual soles thereon as they are dropped from. the magazine by the finger and to feed them to the instrumentalities.

8. A machine for operating' upon soles. comprising a. table, a magazine mounted above the table, means tor delivering indi vidual soles from the magazine and thereafter causing them to drop l'lpOll the table, and a pair of gaging lingers adapted to ,con-

tact with opposite sides of the sole to posi-.

tion the sole after it is droi pcd upon the table.

9. A machine for operating upon soles, comprising a table, a magazine spaced a distance above the table, means for delivering individual soles trom the niagazinp to the table, and means comprising gages engaging opposite sides of the soles-tor position ing the soles thus delivered to the tahle both longitudinally and laterally.

10. A machine for operating upon soles having, in combination, a table, a magazine d above the table, means for deliver Ill.

ing individual soles from the magazine to the table, and a pair of gaging l n rs adapted to contact w1th opposite sides of the shank of the sole to position the sole lateral- 7 1y after it is delivered to the table.

11. A machine for operating upon soles, comprising sole centering devices, means for automatically delivering individual soles to the centering devices, operating instrumentalit-ies, and means for transferring a sole to the operating instrumentalities after its location by the centering devices.

12. A machine for operating upon soles, comprising a magazine, a transferring slide, means for delivering individual soles upon the transferring slide from the magazine, means for centering the soles thus delivered to the slide, a vertically movable sole mold, and means for causing the transferring slide to partake of the vertical movement of the sole mold independently of the magazine.

13. A machine for operating upon soles, comprising a pair of sole positioning arms adapted to contact with opposite sides of a sole, a transferring slide, sole operating instrumentalities, means for actuating the transferring slide toward and from the instrumentalities, and means for first opening the arms and for thereafter pern'iitting the closure of the arms on the sole during the movement of the transferring; slide away from the operating instrumentalities.

14. A machine for operating upon soles having, in combination, sole operating instrumentalities, a transferring slide, means for moving the transferring slide toward and from said instrumentalities, means for positioning a sole placed on the transferring slide comprising a pair of gages adapted to contact with opposite sides of the sole, and means for first spreading the gages to permit a sole to be placed between them, and for thereafter closing the gages on the sole during the movement of the transferring slide away from the operating instrumentalities.

15. A machine for operating upon soles, comprising operating instrumentalities, a transferring slide for transferring a sole to said instrumentalities, mechanism for actuating the slide, meansfor centering a sole upon the slide both laterally and longitudinally, and means on the slide for automatically gripping the sole after its location by the centering devices.

16. A machine for operating upon soles, comprising upper and lower transferring slides, means for gaging the position of a sole upon the upper slide, connections between the two slides controlled by the gag ing means, and mechanism for imparting a movement of uniform extent to the lower slide.

'17. A machine for operating upon soles,

comprising upper and lower transferring slides, means for imparting a movement of uniform extent to the lower slide, and connections between the upper and lower slides for imparting a movement of variable extent to the upper slide controlled by the length of the sole positioned upon the slide.

18. A machine for operating upon soles, comprising a transferring slide, means for centering a sole longitudinally upon the slide, and mechanism for actuating the slide controlled by the sole centering means.

19. A machine for operating upon soles, comprising a transferring slide, means for automatically delivering individual soles to the slide, means for centering the soles longit-udinally upon the slide, and mechanism for actuating the slide controlled by the sole centering means.

20. A machine for operating upon soles, comprising a table upon which a sole is'supported, means for centering the sole longitudinally upon the table, a gripping device, and mechanism controlled by the sole centering means for causing the gripping device to engage with the sole when properly centered upon the table.

21. A machine for operating upon soles, comprising a. table, gages adapted to contact with opposite ends of a sole, mechanism for moving the gages toward one another at the same rate of speed to center the sole longitudinally, and means for automatically gripping the sole after it has been centered be tween the gages.

A machine for operating upon soles, comprising a transferring slide, a gage adapted to contact with one end of the sole movable wi h the slide, a gage for the opposite end of the sole, and mechanism controlled by the movements of the slide for moving this second gage in the opposite direction to said movement of the first gage to center the sole between the gages.

28. A machine for operating upon soles, comprising a transferring slide, a gripping device, toe'and heel gages, means controlled by the movements of the slide for causing the toe and heel gages to move toward one another at the same rate of speed to center a sole, and mechanism controlled by the pressure of the toe and heel. gages upon the sole to actuate the gripping device.

241. A machine for operating upon soles, comprising a transferring slide, a lower slide, a gripping device, means for normally holding the gripping device in an inoperative position, means controlled by the gripping device for causing the two slides to move in unison, means for centering a sole longitudinally upon the upper slide, and mechanism controlled by the centering means for permitting the gripping device to engage the sole and disconnect the two slides. 

